Changes are underway at APD

August 11, 2004

Albany - Immediate changes are on the way for the Albany Police Department. "Is the Chief going to resign or be asked to resign? I know those questions are out there," said City Manager Janice Allen Jackson. "But at the same time, you have to look at the whole picture." The whole picture includes the City Manager tightening APD hiring policies to weed out bad officers.

Potential police officers will soon undergo a more extensive psychological tests. And, more veteran officers will help interview the applicants. The City Manager and staff suggested seven changes to the hiring protocol.

Every applicant must be interviewed by a 5 person panel, made up of 4 officers of different ranks and a human resource employee. Now, some of the veteran officers who do the pre-hire interview have been arrest in the past themselves.

"I know they're having been arrest in the past," said Jackson. "But, those folks have successfully performed in the police department over a 22 to 27 year period. They do have a vast amount of experience that would contribute to the process. I think they could give reasonable judgement in terms of who might be a good candidate for new officer."

The city wants to use a new psychological test to better detect a person's mental stability. Only two or three officers in the past 10 years have failed the current psych test, but 12 officers have been arrest since 1996.

Children play non-competitive baseball to grow teamwork skills (Source: WALB)

Some children with special needs hit the baseball diamond for their fourth season today! The Challenger League, a Leesburg-based non-profit, gives children with special needs the opportunity to play non-competitive sports with each other.

Some children with special needs hit the baseball diamond for their fourth season today! The Challenger League, a Leesburg-based non-profit, gives children with special needs the opportunity to play non-competitive sports with each other.